Rider Waite Tarot

Rating:
Summary: The standard...and for good reason
Review: As for many others, the Rider Waite deck was my first Tarot deck. It's probably -the- best deck for beginners to cut their teeth on due to its rich symbolism. Even without reading page one of any Tarot book on the market, most any intuitive person can form reasonably accurate interpretations of nearly all these cards. The illustrations are simple, yet powerful, drawing on universal archetypes that guide the reader to the wisdom that already lies in his/her subconscious.

It isn't a perfect deck (though I believe the only "perfect" deck would be one that one designed for oneself), but of all the decks I own, it's one of the very few that almost always "speaks" to me. And it speaks to me accurately. I highly recommend this deck for both beginners and experienced readers.

Rating:
Summary: PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED PSYCHIC REVIEW
Review: BEEN USING "RIDER WAITE" SINCE 1988 AS A PROFESSIONAL PSYCHIC. PLEASE CHECK OUT GABRIELS PSYCHIC GATEWAY ITS THE ONLY DECK WE USE.

Rating:
Summary: A Blind Alley
Review: For all A.E Waite did to attract English-speakers to notions of the esoteric doctrine, he did not offer a profound grasp of the true teaching, and his commentaries are evidence that he was more of an intellectual esoterist rather than a practical one. It can be understood then that he was writing about ideas, not realities. This deck reflects that point of view. It is so popular because it reduces the true nature of the Tarot into a simplified, literal form, and this has been a gross injustice both to the Tarot and to humanity. The real Tarot contains a wealth of Intuitive Knowledge, but the Western traditions have missed this point. The Tarot has been diverted into a way to make money or influence others, intentions which cause the naive to create suffering for themselves and others. The true use of the Tarot is largely unknown, but it can be discovered by studying "The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah" by Samael Aun Weor; herein one sees that the Tarot and the Kabbalah are the same science, and it is through proper application of that science that the soul is lifted out of ignorance and suffering.

Rating:
Summary: Waite-Rider Tarot: Good, but not perfect.
Review: For those unfamilliar with Arthur Edward Waite, he continued a "Christianized" version of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn after the original order was disbanned. The New Order of the Golden Dawn, headed by A.E. Waite continued to meet in the Isis-Urania Temple where the old order used to meet. During this time the idea for the "one, perfect and universal Tarot" was birthed. While the Waite-Rider deck is quite good (see TAROT REVELATIONS by Joseph Campbell and Richard Roberts for an in-depth psychological look), in my opinion it is simply too literal. A good idea is to compare A. Crowley's BOOK OF THOTH with the Waite-Rider deck. Notice how A.C.'s are more abstract. This, I believe, is the true nature of Tarot. I believe Waite was simply attempting to set his own concrete definitions of the cards (especially the trumps), while Crowley focused more on correspondences, leaving the actual definitions up to the aspirant. Conclusion: Waite's deck is good, but A.C.'s is better. :)

Rating:
Summary: My favorite Tarot Cards!
Review: I have used several different Tarot cards, but the Rider Waite Tarot Cards, are my absolute favorite. I just feel the most comfortable with them. And they have been around for quite a long time!

Rating:
Summary: As expected, but still disappointing.
Review: I purchased these cards in hope they did not look as rough as previous sets, I have seen of the Rider-Waite deck, but I was not too surprised that they do. This is not due to lack of craftsmanship, they are a nice set of cards, well packaged well-machined but the artwork, is clearly and older style. Also, I have a bias; I'm not too thrilled with lemon yellow and aqua-blue and that is the predominant color of these cards.

That being said, I'm sure these cards are faithful to the original plates, they are reproductions of. Also when I had tried to purchase these cards in a store they were nearly twice as expensive as they are here online.
Considering that, even with my disappointment they are a good deal.

I purchased these cards even though my favorite set is the Morgan-Greer deck. The Morgan-Greer deck has beautiful rich colors and full card illustrations. However, the Rider-Waite deck is one of the card sets available in the Tarot magic computer program I have. The Morgan-Greer is not. This computer program helps you learn Tarot, as well a providing readings from many sets and spreads. Of the sets on the Tarot Magic program, the Rider Waite deck illustrations more closely matches the Morgan Greer than the other decks do. I wanted to learn Tarot somewhat consistently. Also many Tarot books use the Rider-Waite deck as well. It is a handy reference deck to have.

Rating:
Summary: The classic Rider-Waite deck in a comfortable size
Review: I'm using the Rider-Waite deck for over a year now, and have met two problems with the standard size during that time.

First, the deck in a box (and, at least in Israel, it's a bit hard to find a reasonable sized tarot box) is not easy to carry - it's a bit too big.

Second, many people find the cards a bit too big to be easily shuffle, especially women - there's a reason for regular playing cards being smaller than regular tarot cards.

And yes, I know there's a tradeoff between card size and details, which is why I prefer to use the regular size deck at home, but when I take the deck with me the combination wins.

Rating:
Summary: A personal arcana
Review: OH!

No tarot enthusiast, present or future, will ever succeed in avoiding this deck when he/she starts learning about Tarot. It is *ubiquitous*. In the same (cocky) vein that Billie-Jean King once declared "I AM TENNIS.", this Rider-Waite - now only 8 years away from its centennial celebration - screams "I AM TAROT!".

This classic deck presents you with two options:

(i) you either choose to LOVE and WORSHIP its limited pictured-pip-cards (and henceforth spend the rest of your life forking out more money on those opportunistic Rider-Waite clones...)

or

(ii) you decide that Waite's concept is an aberration from the older Marseilles tradition; and you henceforth try to have nothing more to do with this travesty...

Either way, I assure you, you will not be able to free your mind totally from the conceptual framework of this deck; even if you use a non-Waite deck as your primary reading tool. It is THAT influential.

Despite its dated color-scheme, this standard Rider actually looks the part: of an established classic. I would even imagine that prolonged usage might lead the user to eventually rate its artistry on par with Picasso's. Or even to start believing that its stocking-clad men-figures represent the height of machismo.

It is a frightening thought indeed that this garishly-colored piece of Tarot history will continue to survive long after I have pushed up the daisies. (Or more fittingly for this context, Rosicrucian lilies).

OHHH!

Rating:
Summary: the Alpha and the Omega
Review: Things that are deeply touch people are the things that survive the test of time and are well known. The Mona Lisa, for example, is considered a pivotal piece of art and is universally recognized, even though there are thousands of portraits that are both more realistic and completely finished. Somehow, this piece resonates with people in some way so that it's appeal and visceral attraction never fades.

The same is true of the Rider Deck. As noted in other reviews, there are quite literally hundreds of decks ranging from everything from baseball to vampires to dragons to unicorns. Many people collect Tarot cards, but most everyone starts here with the Rider Deck. Indeed, of the hundreds of books published on the Tarot, almost every book I've seen for the beginner to the advanced uses the Rider deck as an example. Most decks are based in the symbolism of the Rider deck as well and if they don't work as well, it's because they've glossed over the symbolism so pivotal in the Rider.

Why, then has the Rider not only survived but evolved to be an archetype of the tarot itself? I think because it speaks to us and it's the easiest to understand even at a quick glance. The symbolism is so strong that the beginner can easily remember what any given card represents (no mean feat when there are 72 cards to remember and read!) The symbolism is also so detailed and deep that the advanced caster is always able to find deeper meaning, make more and more connections between cards during a casting.

Drawn almost like an illuminated manuscript in solid colors with clear, black outlines before the age of airbrush or computer 3D rendering, there is something timeless about it that connects us to it's rich and deep history. It's not flashy or zippy, but yet it's imagery is everywhere if we choose to look for it (didn't Led Zepplin even put the tarot of The Hermit on one of their album covers??)

While there's certainly nothing wrong with exploring other decks, the Rider-Waite is the perfect place for the beginner, ESPECIALLY because any good book on the tarot will use this very deck to explain the symbolism of the cards. Learn on the Rider, become proficient at it, then, if you like, branch out into something different like Egyptian tarot or the Halloween tarot (my other favorite for it's playful holiday symbolism). Beginning with a different deck and working with it right away will not be as satisfying or as easy to understand as the Rider. Like great art, it's timeless because it resonates with us in deep and profound ways. It may not have been the first, but in many ways, it may well be the BEST.

Rating:
Summary: An OK deck
Review: When I become interested in a subject, I research it. The Tarot is no different. I bought this as my first deck based on the reviews here at amazon, and in various books and online sources. The symbolism is very rich, but i found it incredibly difficult to read and interpret. The reason is a simple matter of personal aesthetics: the cards are ugly. Because I didn't like them, I fought them every step of the way. Because of the rich symbolism, this is a very good deck for a seasoned expert, or someone who likes to look at them, but they are definitely not for me.